WINONA, Minn. – Following a three-game stint on the road to begin conference play, Winona State University returns to McCown Gymnasium for a pair of weekend games in the midst of a three-game homestand before the New Year.
WSU hosts Minnesota State Mankato on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and concludes the weekend against Concordia-St. Paul at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The Warriors had been riding a three-game winning streak enter NSIC action to even their record at 3-3 on the season, but have since dropped three in a row against conference foes.
Notes
SCOUTING MANKATO: The Mavericks (3-5, 1-1 NSIC) are winless away from home this season. Mankato splits its first NSIC weekend of the year with a 10-point win over SMSU and a five-point loss to Sioux Falls. Mankato ranks fourth in the NSIC in scoring offense (79.9 ppg) and is 12th in scoring defense (73.5). The Mavericks are shooting 45.9% from the field while allowing just a 39.8% opponent clip. Mankato shoots 35.4% from downtown. The Mavericks are one of the top rebounding teams in the league, including the offensive glass where they average 11.8 offensive boards/game. Mankato leads the NSIC in blocked shots/game (5.38). Cameron Kirksey is shooting over 50% from the field and ranks eighth in the NSIC in scoring (18.1). Ryland Holt (12.8) and Corvon Seales (11.3) round out the scoring leaders. Seales and Kevin Krieger are both shooting over 40% from beyond the arc, and Kirksey (10-17) has also shown the ability to launch from downtown. Kelby Kramer ranks fourth in the NSIC in rebounding average (10.3) while chipping in 7.3 ppg. The Warriors and Mavericks have split the season series each of the last five years.
SCOUTING CSP: The Golden Bears (3-3, 1-1 NSIC) are also seeking their first win away from home entering the weekend and travel to Upper Iowa on Friday prior to Saturday's finale. CSP is in the middle of the pack in scoring offense (73.3 ppg) and scoring defense (70.2). The Golden Bears are shooting 44.9% from the field and 35.9% from downtown. CSP went 7-13 from beyond the arc in its win over SMSU last weekend after struggling (10-33) in a loss to Sioux Falls. Jordan Coblin leads the team and ranks seventh in the NISC in scoring (18.2). Coblin is shooting the ball at a 48% clip from downtown and averages 5.4 assists/game. Cody Carlson (14.3) and Noah Kannegiesser (12.8) are also averaging double digits in the scoring column. CSP has three players averaging at least 6.0 rebounds per game, led by Jacob Shields (6.7). Winona State has won four of the last five meetings with CSP after a series split last season.
CARRYING THE LOAD: Junior Kevion Taylor (16.8 ppg) and senior Caleb Wagner (15.9) have paced the Warrior offense that currently ranks 14th in the NSIC in scoring average (69.7). The duo has racked up 300 minutes apiece over Winona State's first nine games as the Warriors continue to look for scoring depth. Taylor has scored at least 19 points five times, including a season-best 27 vs. Clarke, while Wagner has poured in at least 18 points four times and scored a career-high 35 vs. Bethany Lutheran. Taylor is also tied for the team lead in assists (27) and rebounding average (6.9).
IN THE TRENCHES: While the Warriors have put their early-season shooting woes behind them, having shot at least 40% of each of the last six games, Winona State's rebounding has emerged as an area of concern. The Warriors own a -5.3 rebounding margin and have pulled down a league-worst 64 offensive boards. WSU got out-rebounded in its loss to Augie last weekend, 51-33, and yielded 17 offensive boards to the Vikings. Taylor and Andrea Lo Biondo share the team lead in rebounds/game (6.9).
THE APPLE DOESN'T FALL FAR: The sophomore duo of Luke Martens and Alec Rosner has consistently contributed for WSU early this season. Martens, an Apple Valley, MN native, has appeared in all nine games off the bench as the Warriors' reliable sixth man and has played any position asked of him by Coach Eisner. Martens is averaging 7.1 points and 4.3 rebounds/game, including a career-best 14 points in a win vs. Michigan Tech. Rosner, of Appleton, WI, has started in all nine contests and is averaging 10.8 ppg. Rosner netted a career-high 18 in a victory vs. Viterbo.
